Freelancing and self-employment are on the up. More and more people are seeing the appeal of working for themselves, particularly in a tough job market.

While before, being a slave to your job was typical, but now people want more. A better work/life balance, more time at home and more freedom are among the extras we look for in a job. Working for yourself can help achieve this, but are you ready to take the plunge?

Read more about why working for yourself could be great for your career.

The freedom

When you work for yourself, your goals and ambitions will change completely. When you were working for a business or organisation, your hard work was working towards someone else’s goals rather than your own. Now you can set the agenda and decide what you want to get out of your business. This doesn’t mean that you can’t set goals for your small business, but it gives you the chance to do things your way for a refreshing change.

The chance to pursue your passion

Today’s teens are faced with enormous pressure to go to university, even if it’s not the right move for them. Getting a degree for the sake of having a degree may not be beneficial if you’re not interested in pursuing a job in your field of study. This leads to people ending up in jobs they’re not really interested in just to have a job, and ambitions can soon fall by the wayside. If you’re not getting the opportunities you want – seek them out yourself. Starting your own business or pursuing a freelance career gives you the chance to do something you’re passionate about, helping to achieve that job satisfaction that is so rare these days.

Achieving a better work/life balance

When you work for yourself, you get to choose the days and hours that you work, allowing you to fit in your home and social life much more easily. When you’re self-employed, you’re also not bound by annual leave etc, so if you want to take a spontaneous holiday – you can do it! While there are drawbacks such as potential financial insecurity, there are so many other benefits available to you that can make working for yourself a dream job.

The range of jobs available

There are so many ways you can be self-employed or start your own business, giving you the chance to try something you might never have considered before. See more about setting up a letting agency as a way to try something different, or put your skills to good use by offering freelance services – the choice is yours. You can even try something as a side hustle in addition to your current job to see if it’s a good fit for you before you pursue it as a career.

Starting your own business or working for yourself offers many great possibilities that are worth considering if you’re fed up with the 9-5 grind. Many people who work for themselves go on to expand their home businesses, turning something small into a major business. If you’re at a crossroads in your career, consider taking a different route and making the move into self-employment – it could be your best career move yet!

This post has been contributed by Ryan Gatt, it may contain affiliate links.